Acoustic lens, ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic imaging device

Abstract

This application relates to an acoustic lens, an ultrasonic probe, and an ultrasonic imaging device. The acoustic lens has a front surface, and the curvature of the front surface includes a central region and side regions located on both sides of the central region. The focal length of the central region is greater than that of the side regions. This acoustic lens adjusts the focal length in sections to achieve multi-dimensional, multi-point focusing. Ultrasonic waves passing through the central region are focused at a deeper level of the target, while those passing through the side regions are focused at a shallower level. Furthermore, the beam narrowing is significant. When detecting complex structures, clear images from shallow to deep are obtained, improving the quality of ultrasonic images.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of acoustic materials technology, and in particular to an acoustic lens, an ultrasonic probe, and an ultrasonic imaging device. Background Technology

[0002] Ultrasonic imaging equipment typically utilizes the electroacoustic conversion properties of piezoelectric materials in ultrasonic transducers. By applying voltage pulses to the piezoelectric material, its physical deformation is caused to generate corresponding ultrasonic signals. Echo signals from different tissues in the human body are then received, ultimately producing an image of the desired tissue. The ultrasonic transducer and acoustic lens are the core components of ultrasonic imaging equipment and are widely used in medical diagnosis and treatment processes using various ultrasonic imaging devices.

[0003] The acoustic lens, located on the outermost layer of the transducer, needs to simultaneously meet requirements for protection, focusing, and sound transmission. With the accumulation and development of ultrasound technology, users' demands for image clarity are increasing. To improve ultrasound imaging quality, some researchers have optimized the shape of the acoustic lens, creating different shapes at the center and outer edges. However, such lenses are prone to deformation during contact with the human body, leading to the inability to focus the ultrasound beam at the target depth. Other researchers have used shape memory alloys to dynamically adjust the curvature of the acoustic lens. This method adjusts the curvature by controlling the current, but the manufacturing process is complex and requires high-quality materials. Therefore, current acoustic lenses struggle to meet the requirements of clinical precision and simplicity, making it difficult to obtain clear images when examining complex organs or tissues, thus hindering accurate target location identification. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide an acoustic lens, ultrasonic probe, and ultrasonic imaging device that can improve imaging quality.

[0005] In one aspect of this application, an acoustic lens is provided, the acoustic lens having a front surface, the curvature of the acoustic lens on the front surface including a central region and side regions located on both sides of the central region; the focal length of the central region is greater than the focal length of the side regions.

[0006] The aforementioned acoustic lens uses zoned focal length adjustment, with the focal length in the central zone being greater than that in the side zones. By adjusting the focal length, the focusing position of the acoustic lens is changed, achieving multi-dimensional and multi-point focusing. This avoids the limitations of acoustic lenses with fixed focal lengths, increases the clarity of ultrasound images, and allows users to accurately identify the location of targets from the ultrasound images. This acoustic lens focuses ultrasound waves through the central zone onto deeper parts of the target being tested, while ultrasound waves through the side zones are focused onto shallower parts. When inspecting objects with complex structures, clear images from shallow to deep can be obtained, thereby further improving the quality of ultrasound images.

[0007] The aforementioned acoustic lens can significantly narrow the beam and make the beam more uniform, with similar beam widths at different depths of the object under test, thereby further improving the quality of ultrasound images.

[0008] After being focused by the aforementioned acoustic lens, the ultrasound waves can form a narrower beam inside the object under test. These narrower beams have more concentrated energy, which can improve spatial resolution, increase signal strength and contrast, and reduce sidelobe interference. This allows for more accurate differentiation of the boundaries of adjacent structures inside the object under test, as well as the fine structures inside the object. Consequently, these boundaries and fine structures can be displayed more clearly in the image, avoiding the blurring caused by an excessively large beam coverage area that cannot be clearly distinguished.

[0009] In some embodiments, in the direction of curvature change of the front surface, the length of the middle region accounts for 10% to 40% of the total length of the acoustic lens, and the length of the side region on one side accounts for 5% to 45% of the total length of the acoustic lens.

[0010] In some embodiments, the acoustic lens satisfies at least one of the following conditions: (1) The number of side areas on both sides of the middle area is the same; (2) In the direction of surface curvature change of the front surface, the lengths of the side areas on both sides of the middle area are the same.

[0011] In some implementations, the sound velocity difference between adjacent regions is greater than or equal to 50 m / s, and the acoustic impedance difference between adjacent regions is less than or equal to 0.1 Mrayl.

[0012] In some embodiments, the acoustic lens is a convex lens, and the sound velocity in the central region and each of the side regions is less than or equal to 1500 m / s; or... The acoustic lens is a concave lens, and the sound velocity in the middle region and each of the side regions is greater than 1500 m / s.

[0013] In some embodiments, the side region on one side comprises n sequentially connected sub-regions in the direction of surface curvature change on the front surface, wherein the focal length of the n sequentially connected sub-regions decreases from the middle region toward the direction away from the middle region, where n is a natural number greater than or equal to 1.

[0014] In some embodiments, the acoustic lens is a convex lens, the front surface is a convex surface, the curvature of the front surface is equal in the middle region and each of the side regions, and the sound speed in the middle region is greater than the sound speed in the side regions.

[0015] In some embodiments, the acoustic lens is a convex lens, and the side region on one side includes n sequentially connected sub-regions in the direction of surface curvature change on the front surface. The sound velocity of the n sequentially connected sub-regions decreases from the middle region in the direction away from the middle region, where n is a natural number greater than or equal to 1.

[0016] In some embodiments, the material of the middle region and each of the side regions is at least one of silicone rubber and modified silicone rubber.

[0017] In some embodiments, the raw materials for preparing the modified silicone rubber include, by mass content, 60% to 80% silicone rubber, 10% to 40% high-velocity components, and 0% to 10% compatibilizer, wherein the high-velocity components have a sound velocity greater than or equal to 1100 m / s.

[0018] In some embodiments, the raw materials for preparing the modified silicone rubber include, by mass content, 60% to 75% silicone rubber, 22% to 40% hypersonic components, and 1% to 5% compatibilizer.

[0019] In some embodiments, the sound velocity of the modified silicone rubber is 1100 m / s to 1400 m / s.

[0020] In some embodiments, the hypersonic component includes at least one of silicone resin, polyurethane resin, epoxy resin, fluorosilicone rubber, polysulfide rubber, and nitrile rubber.

[0021] In some embodiments, the compatibilizer includes at least one of a silane coupling agent and a modified silicone oil.

[0022] In some embodiments, the silicone rubber includes at least one of RTV 630 silicone rubber, DC 184 silicone rubber, 6610 / 60 silicone rubber, and LSR 7080 silicone rubber.

[0023] In some embodiments, the acoustic lens is a concave lens, the front surface is a concave surface, the curvature of the front surface is equal in the middle region and each of the side regions, and the sound velocity in the middle region is less than the sound velocity in the side regions.

[0024] In some embodiments, the acoustic lens is a concave lens, and the side region on one side comprises n sequentially connected sub-regions in the direction of surface curvature change on the front surface. The sound velocity of the n sequentially connected sub-regions increases from the middle region toward the direction away from the middle region, where n is a natural number greater than or equal to 1.

[0025] In some embodiments, the material of the central region and each of the side regions is a thermoplastic polymer.

[0026] In some embodiments, the thermoplastic polymer includes at least one of thermoplastic polyurethane, polyether polyamide block copolymer, silicone thermoplastic elastomer, styrene-isobutylene-styrene block copolymer, poly4-methylpentene, polypropylene, and polyamide resin.

[0027] A second aspect of this application provides an ultrasonic probe, including an acoustic lens as described in the first aspect.

[0028] A third aspect of this application provides an ultrasonic imaging device, including an acoustic lens as described in the first aspect or an ultrasonic probe as described in the second aspect. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing the installation status of the acoustic lens and the ultrasonic transducer.

[0030] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of an acoustic lens structure that divides a single side into n sub-regions (n ​​is a natural number greater than or equal to 1).

[0031] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the acoustic lens structure in Example 1.

[0032] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the acoustic lens structure in Example 2.

[0033] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the acoustic lens structure in Example 3.

[0034] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the acoustic lens structure in Example 4.

[0035] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the acoustic lens structure in Example 5.

[0036] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the acoustic lens structure in Example 6.

[0037] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the acoustic lens structure in Comparative Example 1.

[0038] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the acoustic lens in Comparative Example 1 after increasing its radius of curvature.

[0039] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the acoustic lens structure in Comparative Example 2.

[0040] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the acoustic lens in Comparative Example 1 after reducing its radius of curvature.

[0041] Figure 13This is a comparison diagram of the beamwidth of the acoustic lens of this application and a traditional single-material acoustic lens at different depths of the target under test.

[0042] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Backing layer; 2. Piezoelectric material; 3. Matching layer; 4. Acoustic lens; 41. Front surface. Detailed Implementation

[0043] To facilitate understanding of the present invention, a more complete description will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings. However, the invention can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a thorough and complete understanding of the disclosure of the invention.

[0044] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used herein in the description of the invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0045] An ultrasonic transducer is a device that converts electrical energy into ultrasonic energy and vice versa. Its operation is based on the piezoelectric effect and the inverse piezoelectric effect. When an electric field is applied to certain crystalline materials (such as piezoelectric ceramics), the material deforms; this phenomenon is called the inverse piezoelectric effect. Utilizing the inverse piezoelectric effect, when an alternating voltage is applied across a piezoelectric material, the material undergoes periodic expansion and contraction, thus emitting ultrasonic waves. Conversely, when ultrasonic waves act on a piezoelectric material, the material generates an electric field due to mechanical stress; this is the piezoelectric effect itself. By detecting this electric field, the ultrasonic transducer can convert the received ultrasonic signal into an electrical signal, thereby achieving ultrasonic signal reception. Ultrasonic imaging equipment, on the other hand, generates images of the desired tissue from the received echo signals from different tissue parts of the object under test.

[0046] Please see Figure 1 The main components of the ultrasonic transducer include a backing layer 1, a piezoelectric material 2, and a matching layer 3 connected in sequence. The piezoelectric material 2 is the core component of the ultrasonic transducer. The matching layer 3 is located in front of the piezoelectric material 2, and the backing layer 1 is located behind the piezoelectric material 2. That is, along the ultrasonic wave emission direction, the backing layer 1 is upstream of the piezoelectric material 2, and the matching layer 3 is downstream of the piezoelectric material 2. An acoustic lens 4 is connected to the matching layer 3 and is located downstream of the matching layer 3.

[0047] Acoustic lenses can change the propagation direction of ultrasonic waves, focusing the ultrasonic beam on a specific area to increase the ultrasonic energy intensity in that area, thereby obtaining clearer image details. Acoustic lenses can also match acoustic impedance, reducing ultrasonic wave reflection at the interface between the transducer and the object under test. In addition, acoustic lenses can shape the relatively divergent ultrasonic beam emitted by the ultrasonic transducer into a shape more suitable for the detection requirements.

[0048] With the development of ultrasound technology, users have increasingly higher requirements for image clarity, necessitating ultrasound imaging equipment with high spatial resolution so that users can accurately identify the location of targets from ultrasound images. However, current ultrasound imaging technology has certain limitations, and the image quality of ultrasound imaging is difficult to meet the clarity requirements, especially when the structure of the object under test is relatively complex.

[0049] Based on this, in a first aspect of this application, an embodiment provides an acoustic lens having a front surface, the curvature of the front surface including a central region and side regions located on both sides of the central region; the focal length of the central region is greater than the focal length of the side regions.

[0050] Acoustic lenses are used to focus sound waves, which are then emitted through their front surface. For example, in ultrasound imaging equipment, an acoustic lens is located in front of the ultrasound transducer. The ultrasonic waves generated by the transducer are focused by the acoustic lens and emitted through the front surface to the location of the object being detected, such as human tissue. This creates a narrower beam inside the object, thus achieving ultrasound imaging.

[0051] The "front surface" of an acoustic lens refers to the surface of the acoustic lens that faces or contacts the target to be identified. Since the acoustic lens is a lens as a whole, this front surface has a curved structure. This curved structure has directions of curvature change, such as... Figure 1 The Y direction is shown. Specifically, as shown... Figure 1 As shown, the acoustic lens is a convex lens overall, with a convex front surface that exhibits curvature in the Y direction. However, since the acoustic lens is square overall, it does not show curvature in the X direction. Specifically, as... Figure 1 As shown, the front surface is thickest in the middle region along the Y direction, extending towards the side regions on both sides, with the front surface gradually decreasing in thickness towards the acoustic lens body. Understandably, for a concave acoustic lens, as... Figure 7 As shown, the front surface is thinnest in the middle region in the Y direction, and extends from the middle region to the side regions on both sides. The front surface gradually rises away from the acoustic lens body.

[0052] The aforementioned acoustic lens uses zoned focal length adjustment, with the focal length in the central zone being greater than that in the side zones. By adjusting the focal length, the focusing position of the acoustic lens is changed, achieving multi-dimensional and multi-point focusing. This avoids the limitations of fixed-focal-length acoustic lenses in actual clinical scanning. When examining complex organs or tissues, it can obtain clear images from shallow to deep, significantly improving ultrasound imaging quality and increasing ultrasound image clarity, allowing users to accurately locate objects in ultrasound images. The acoustic lens focuses ultrasound waves through the central zone onto deeper parts of the target, while focusing ultrasound waves through the side zones onto shallower parts, resulting in significant beam narrowing and more uniform beam width at different depths, further improving ultrasound image quality.

[0053] After being focused by the aforementioned acoustic lens, the ultrasound waves can form a narrower beam inside the object under test. These narrower beams have more concentrated energy, which can improve spatial resolution, increase signal strength and contrast, and reduce sidelobe interference. This allows for more accurate differentiation of the boundaries of adjacent structures inside the object under test, as well as the fine structures inside the object. Consequently, these boundaries and fine structures can be displayed more clearly in the image, avoiding the blurring caused by an excessively large beam coverage area that cannot be clearly distinguished.

[0054] In some embodiments, in the direction of curvature change of the front surface, the length of the middle region accounts for 10% to 40% of the total length of the acoustic lens, and the length of the side region on one side accounts for 5% to 45% of the total length of the acoustic lens.

[0055] Understandably, a lateral zone on one side can be one or more.

[0056] As an example, the length of the intermediate region as a percentage of the total length of the acoustic lens can be 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, 30%, 31%, 32%, 33%, 34%, 35%, 36%, 37%, 38%, 39%, and 40%, or it can be within the range formed by any two of the above point values ​​as end values.

[0057] The length of the intermediate region preferably accounts for 20% to 40% of the total length of the acoustic lens.

[0058] As an example, the length of the side region on one side as a percentage of the total length of the acoustic lens can be 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, 30%, 31%, 32%, 33%, 34%, 35%, 36%, 37%, 38%, 39%, 40%, 41%, 42%, 43%, 44%, and 45%, or it can be within the range formed by any two of the above point values ​​as end values.

[0059] The length of the side region on one side preferably accounts for 10% to 35% of the total length of the acoustic lens.

[0060] In some embodiments, the number of side regions on both sides of the central region of the acoustic lens is the same.

[0061] In some embodiments, the side regions on both sides of the middle region are of the same length in the direction of curvature change of the front surface.

[0062] In some embodiments, the number of side regions on both sides of the central region of the acoustic lens is the same; and the length of the side regions on both sides of the central region is the same in the direction of curvature change of the front surface. When the number and length of the side regions on both sides are the same, the acoustic lens has a symmetrical geometry, and the sound waves undergo similar refraction processes, which allows the sound wave energy to converge more uniformly to the focal point, resulting in more uniform and efficient energy focusing.

[0063] Furthermore, the sound velocity is the same in both lateral regions. When the number, length, and sound velocity of the lateral regions are the same on both sides, the acoustic lens has a symmetrical geometry and physical properties. The sound waves will undergo the same refraction process, which allows the sound wave energy to converge more evenly to the focal point, resulting in more uniform and efficient energy focusing. Moreover, this symmetrical structure of the acoustic lens helps to reduce sound wave distortion.

[0064] In some implementations, the sound velocity difference between adjacent regions is greater than or equal to 50 m / s, and the acoustic impedance difference between adjacent regions is less than or equal to 0.1 Mrayl.

[0065] To put it simply, adjacent regions refer to two adjacent regions on an acoustic lens that have different sound velocities. These can be the middle region and a side region adjacent to the middle region, or two adjacent sub-regions within the side region.

[0066] A sound velocity difference between adjacent regions greater than or equal to 50 m / s helps to achieve multi-point focusing and improve imaging quality; an acoustic impedance difference between adjacent regions less than or equal to 0.1 Mrayl results in small acoustic impedance differences between different regions, meeting impedance consistency requirements and reducing interface refraction; when the sound velocity difference between adjacent regions is greater than or equal to 50 m / s and the acoustic impedance difference between adjacent regions is less than or equal to 0.1 Mrayl, the beam narrowing is significant and the beam is more uniform, thereby improving imaging resolution, increasing detection depth and penetration, reducing beam obstruction and interference, and improving detection sensitivity.

[0067] As an example, the sound velocity difference between adjacent zones can be 50 m / s, 60 m / s, 70 m / s, 80 m / s, 90 m / s, 100 m / s, 106 m / s, 110 m / s, 120 m / s, 130 m / s, 140 m / s, 150 m / s, 160 m / s, 170 m / s, 180 m / s, 190 m / s, 196 m / s, etc. The values ​​of m / s, 200m / s, 210m / s, 220m / s, 230m / s, 240m / s, 250m / s, 260m / s, 270m / s, 280m / s, 290m / s, 300m / s, 310m / s, 320m / s, 330m / s, 340m / s, 350m / s, 360m / s, 370m / s, 380m / s, 390m / s, 400m / s, 410m / s, 420m / s, 430m / s, 440m / s, 450m / s, 460m / s, 470m / s, 480m / s, 490m / s, and 500m / s can also be any two of the above point values ​​as endpoints within the range. The preferred sound velocity difference between adjacent zones is 100 m / s to 350 m / s.

[0068] As an example, the acoustic impedance difference between adjacent regions can be 0, 0.01Mrayl, 0.02Mrayl, 0.03Mrayl, 0.04Mrayl, 0.05Mrayl, 0.06Mrayl, 0.07Mrayl, 0.08Mrayl, 0.09Mrayl, 0.095Mrayl, and 0.1Mrayl, or it can be within the range defined by any two of the above values ​​as endpoints. The acoustic impedance difference between adjacent regions is preferably 0~0.05Mrayl.

[0069] In some embodiments, the sound velocity difference between adjacent regions is 100 m / s to 350 m / s, and the acoustic impedance difference between adjacent regions is 0 to 0.05 Mrayl. Within this range, the sound velocity difference and acoustic impedance difference between adjacent regions result in better beam narrowing, leading to higher resolution and clearer images obtained by ultrasound imaging.

[0070] In some embodiments, the acoustic lens is a convex lens, and the sound velocity in the central region and each of the side regions is less than or equal to 1500 m / s; or... The acoustic lens is a concave lens, and the sound velocity in the middle region and each of the side regions is greater than 1500 m / s.

[0071] The front surface of a convex lens protrudes outward to form a convex surface. When an ultrasonic wave propagates from one side, the convex surface of the lens will refract the ultrasonic wave toward the central axis. This structure can converge the diverging ultrasonic beam to a focal point, thereby achieving focused imaging. The aforementioned convex lens can effectively focus the ultrasonic wave emitted by the transducer to a specific depth region of the object under test, thereby improving the resolution of the imaging.

[0072] The front surface of a concave lens is recessed inward to form a concave surface. The function of a concave lens is the opposite of that of a convex lens. It will cause the ultrasonic beam to diverge, which can be used to expand the coverage of ultrasonic waves or to make appropriate divergence adjustments to beams that have been focused too strongly.

[0073] When a sound wave travels from a material with a higher sound velocity to a material with a lower sound velocity, it tends to deflect towards the normal of the interface. When the sound velocity of the acoustic lens material is lower than that of the object being measured, it is designed to be convex in the direction of ultrasonic radiation; when its sound velocity is higher than that of the object being measured, it is designed to be concave.

[0074] In some embodiments, the side region on one side comprises n sequentially connected sub-regions in the direction of surface curvature change on the front surface, wherein the focal length of the n sequentially connected sub-regions decreases from the middle region toward the direction away from the middle region, where n is a natural number greater than or equal to 1.

[0075] In some embodiments, the acoustic lens is a convex lens, and the front surface is a convex surface. The curvature of the front surface is equal in the central region and each of the side regions, and the sound velocity in the central region is greater than the sound velocity in the side regions. The equal curvature of the central region and each of the side regions avoids deformation caused by contact between the acoustic lens and the object under test, which is beneficial for the acoustic lens to achieve multi-dimensional and multi-point focusing. The greater sound velocity in the central region compared to the side regions allows the ultrasonic waves passing through the central region to be focused at a deeper level of the target, while the ultrasonic waves passing through the side regions are focused at a shallower level.

[0076] In some embodiments, the acoustic lens is a convex lens, and the side region on one side comprises n sequentially connected sub-regions along the curvature change direction of the front surface. The sound velocity in the n sequentially connected sub-regions decreases from the middle region toward the direction away from the middle region, where n is a natural number greater than or equal to 1. The sound velocity in the n sequentially connected sub-regions decreases from the middle region toward the direction away from the middle region, meaning the focal length is largest in the middle region and gradually decreases in the side region. This achieves the convergence of the ultrasonic beam passing through the middle region Ln+1 of the acoustic lens to the deeper part of the target object, and the convergence of the ultrasonic beam transmitted through the side region to the shallower part of the target object, resulting in a narrow-width ultrasonic beam in the Y direction.

[0077] For understanding, please refer to Figure 2 The unilateral side region, with its curved surface change direction on the front surface, comprises n sequentially connected sub-regions, forming a convex lens with a 2n+1 partition structure (n is a natural number greater than or equal to 1). By selecting materials with different sound velocities for each partition, the sound velocity in the middle region Ln+1 is the fastest, while the sound velocity in the side regions gradually decreases (V). Ln >V Ln-1 >…>V L2 >V L1 V Ln+2 >V Ln+3 >…>V L2n >V L2n+1 The focal length is largest in the central region and gradually decreases in the side regions. This allows the ultrasonic beam transmitted through the central region (Ln+1) of the acoustic lens to converge on the deeper part of the target object, while the ultrasonic beam transmitted through the side regions converges on the shallower part, resulting in a narrow ultrasonic beam in the Y direction. The materials used can be chosen from components with similar impedances, ensuring that the material selected for the central region has the fastest sound velocity, while the material selected for the side regions has a gradually decreasing sound velocity. The materials used for the symmetrical sub-regions within the two side regions can be the same or different.

[0078] Furthermore, the acoustic lens is a convex lens, and the sound velocity of the n sequentially connected sub-regions decreases from the middle region toward the direction away from the middle region, where 1≤n≤5 is a natural number.

[0079] Furthermore, the acoustic lens is a convex lens, and the sound velocity of the n sequentially connected sub-regions decreases from the middle region toward the direction away from the middle region, where 1≤n≤3 is a natural number.

[0080] In some embodiments, the material of the central region and each of the side regions is at least one of silicone rubber and modified silicone rubber. Silicone rubber hardly fatigues during contact with the human body and can return to its original shape before deformation after use, providing good protection. Since the sound velocity of silicone rubber is mostly around 1000 m / s, it cannot form a significant sound velocity difference. However, the modified silicone rubber of this application ensures a significant sound velocity difference while also ensuring that the sound attenuation of the modified silicone rubber does not increase significantly.

[0081] In some embodiments, the raw materials for preparing the modified silicone rubber, by mass content, are silicone rubber greater than or equal to 50%, high-velocity components less than or equal to 40%, and compatibilizer less than or equal to 10%.

[0082] As an example, the mass content of silicone rubber can be 50%, 51%, 52%, 53%, 54%, 55%, 56%, 57%, 58%, 59%, 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, and 90%, or within a range defined by any two of the above values ​​as endpoints. The mass content of silicone rubber is preferably 60% to 80%, more preferably 60% to 75%.

[0083] As an example, the mass content of the hypersonic component can be 5%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, 30%, 31%, 32%, 33%, 34%, 35%, 36%, 37%, 38%, 39%, and 40%, or it can be within the range defined by any two of the above values ​​as endpoints. The mass content of the hypersonic component is preferably 10% to 40%, more preferably 22% to 40%.

[0084] As an example, the mass content of the compatibilizer can be 0, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, and 10%, or it can be within the range defined by any two of the above values ​​as endpoints. The mass content of the compatibilizer is preferably 0.5% to 5%, more preferably 1% to 5%.

[0085] In some embodiments, the raw materials for preparing the modified silicone rubber, by mass content, include 60%–80% silicone rubber, 10%–40% high-velocity acoustic components, and 0%–10% compatibilizer, wherein the high-velocity acoustic components have a sound velocity greater than or equal to 1100 m / s. This modified silicone rubber, while ensuring a significant sound velocity difference, does not significantly increase the sound attenuation, successfully controlling the 5MHz sound attenuation to within 30 dB / cm. Furthermore, the acoustic lens containing this modified silicone rubber exhibits more significant beam narrowing and clearer imaging.

[0086] In some embodiments, the raw materials for preparing the modified silicone rubber, by mass content, include 60%–75% silicone rubber, 22%–40% high-velocity acoustic components, and 1%–5% compatibilizer. This modified silicone rubber, while ensuring a significant sound velocity difference, prevents a significant increase in acoustic attenuation, successfully controlling the 5MHz acoustic attenuation to within 20 dB / cm. Furthermore, acoustic lenses containing this modified silicone rubber exhibit better beam narrowing effects, resulting in higher quality ultrasonic images.

[0087] In some embodiments, the sound velocity of the modified silicone rubber is 1100 m / s to 1400 m / s.

[0088] In some embodiments, the hypersonic component is a hypersonic resin with a sound speed greater than or equal to 1100 m / s or a hypersonic rubber with a sound speed greater than or equal to 1100 m / s.

[0089] Furthermore, the high-velocity component includes at least one of silicone resin, polyurethane resin, epoxy resin, fluorosilicone rubber, polysulfide rubber, and nitrile rubber.

[0090] Furthermore, the high-velocity component includes a curing agent.

[0091] In some embodiments, the compatibilizer includes at least one of a silane coupling agent and a modified silicone oil.

[0092] In some embodiments, the silicone rubber includes at least one of RTV 630 silicone rubber, DC 184 silicone rubber, 6610 / 60 silicone rubber, and LSR 7080 silicone rubber.

[0093] In some embodiments, the acoustic lens is a concave lens, and the front surface is a concave surface. The curvature of the front surface is equal in the central region and each of the side regions, and the sound velocity in the central region is lower than the sound velocity in the side regions. The concave lens, with its equal curvature in the central and side regions, avoids deformation caused by contact between the acoustic lens and the object under test, which is beneficial for achieving multi-dimensional, multi-point focusing. Furthermore, the lower sound velocity in the central region compared to the side regions allows the ultrasonic waves passing through the central region to be focused at a deeper level of the target, while the ultrasonic waves passing through the side regions are focused at a shallower level.

[0094] In some embodiments, the acoustic lens is a concave lens, and the side region on one side comprises n sequentially connected sub-regions in the direction of surface curvature change on the front surface. The sound velocity of the n sequentially connected sub-regions increases from the middle region toward the direction away from the middle region, where n is a natural number greater than or equal to 1.

[0095] In some embodiments, the acoustic lens is a concave lens, and the material of the central region and each of the side regions is a thermoplastic polymer. Taking advantage of the injection-moldable nature of thermoplastic polymers, they can be combined with liquid silicone rubber using a two-stage injection molding process to create a liquid silicone rubber-thermoplastic polymer partitioned acoustic lens. Alternatively, the properties of the thermoplastic polymer itself can be utilized to create a partitioned acoustic lens using a two-stage injection molding process.

[0096] In some embodiments, the thermoplastic polymer includes at least one of thermoplastic polyurethane, polyether polyamide block copolymer, silicone thermoplastic elastomer, styrene-isobutylene-styrene block copolymer, poly4-methylpentene, polypropylene, and polyamide resin.

[0097] In some embodiments, the thermoplastic polymer includes thermoplastic elastomers or thermoplastic resins. Thermoplastic elastomers and thermoplastic resins differ significantly in their elastic modulus and sound velocity. Thermoplastic elastomers are copolymers formed by the alternating polymerization or dynamic mechanical mixing of chemically different chain segments. They possess characteristics such as controllable molecular weight, narrow molecular weight distribution, and designable molecular structure and composition, allowing for the manufacture or selection of thermoplastic elastomers with desired acoustic and mechanical properties. Thermoplastic resins have good processing properties, allowing for the design and injection molding of complex shapes, resulting in high production efficiency.

[0098] In some embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer includes at least one of thermoplastic polyurethane, polyether polyamide block copolymer, silicone thermoplastic elastomer, and styrene-isobutylene-styrene block copolymer.

[0099] In some embodiments, the thermoplastic resin includes at least one of poly(4-methylpentene), polypropylene, and polyamide resin.

[0100] A second aspect of this application provides an ultrasonic probe, including an acoustic lens as described in the first aspect.

[0101] In some embodiments, the ultrasonic probe includes an ultrasonic transducer and an acoustic lens, with the acoustic lens located in front of the ultrasonic transducer.

[0102] Please see Figure 1 The main components of the ultrasonic transducer include a backing layer 1, a piezoelectric material 2, and a matching layer 3 connected in sequence. The piezoelectric material 2 is the core component of the ultrasonic transducer. The matching layer 3 is located in front of the piezoelectric material 2, and the backing layer 1 is located behind the piezoelectric material 2. That is, along the ultrasonic wave emission direction, the backing layer 1 is upstream of the piezoelectric material 2, and the matching layer 3 is downstream of the piezoelectric material 2. An acoustic lens 4 is connected to the matching layer 3 and is located downstream of it. The acoustic lens can change the propagation direction of the ultrasonic wave, thus focusing it. The ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic transducer are optimized by the aforementioned acoustic lens, focusing and reducing reflections before being emitted towards the object under test. When receiving the ultrasonic echo, the echo first passes through the acoustic lens, then is received by the ultrasonic transducer and converted into an electrical signal for further processing. The aforementioned acoustic lens and ultrasonic transducer together constitute an ultrasonic probe capable of effectively transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. This ultrasonic probe achieves multi-dimensional and multi-point focusing through optimized acoustic lens structure, which makes the ultrasonic beam significantly narrower in the object under test and the beam uniform, improving detection sensitivity and imaging quality, and enabling rapid and accurate identification of the target location.

[0103] A third aspect of this application provides an ultrasonic imaging device, comprising at least one of an acoustic lens as described in the first aspect and an ultrasonic probe as described in the second aspect.

[0104] In some embodiments, the ultrasound imaging device includes a control unit, an ultrasound probe, a signal processing unit, an image generation system, and an image display system.

[0105] The control unit controls the transmitting circuit to generate high-frequency electrical pulse signals according to settings. These signals are transmitted to the piezoelectric material of the ultrasonic transducer, which converts the electrical pulses into mechanical vibrations based on the piezoelectric effect, generating ultrasonic waves. After being optimized by the aforementioned acoustic lens, the ultrasonic waves are emitted towards the object under test. The echo, after passing through the acoustic lens, is processed by the signal processing unit to optimize beam characteristics. Then, the image generation system generates two-dimensional or three-dimensional ultrasonic images based on information such as the echo signal's delay time and intensity using a specific algorithm, and transmits the images to the image display system for display. This ultrasonic imaging device achieves multi-dimensional, multi-point focusing through optimized acoustic lens structure, resulting in a significantly narrowed and uniform ultrasonic beam within the object under test. This allows for clear images from shallow to deep focus, improving ultrasonic imaging quality and enabling users to accurately identify the target's location from the ultrasonic images.

[0106] The following are specific examples.

[0107] The following materials may be used in the embodiments: (a) Silicone rubber Liquid silicone rubber can be divided into room temperature vulcanizing silicone rubber (RTV) and liquid silicone rubber (LSR) depending on the molding method. RTV silicone rubber is suitable for casting molding. After being mixed evenly, it can be poured into the mold cavity for molding. LSR silicone rubber has a higher molding temperature and usually a higher viscosity. It can be molded using an LSR injection molding machine and is suitable for two-color or multi-color injection molding or two-stage injection molding.

[0108] Silicone Rubber A: The main component of Silicone Rubber A is Momentive RTV 630 (abbreviated as RTV630).

[0109] The performance testing process for silicone rubber A is as follows: 20g of RTV630 silicone and 2g of curing agent were weighed and mechanically stirred until uniformly mixed. After vacuum centrifugation to remove bubbles, the mixture was poured into a mold and cured at room temperature for 24 hours to obtain cured silicone rubber A. Its acoustic performance was tested, and the density of silicone rubber A was found to be 1.28 g / cm³. 3 The sound velocity is 1050 m / s, the acoustic impedance is 1.34 MRayl, and the sound attenuation at 5 MHz is less than 25 dB / cm.

[0110] Silicone Rubber B: The main component of silicone rubber B is Dow Corning SYLGARD 184 (abbreviated as DC184).

[0111] The performance testing procedure for silicone rubber B is as follows: 20g of 184 silicone component and 2g of curing agent were weighed, mechanically stirred until uniformly mixed, and vacuum centrifuged to remove bubbles to obtain the mixture. The mixture was then poured into a mold and cured at room temperature for 48 hours to obtain the cured product. Acoustic performance testing was performed, and the density of silicone rubber B was found to be 1.03 g / cm³. 3The sound velocity is 1020 m / s, the acoustic impedance is 1.05 MRayl, and the sound attenuation at 5MHz is less than 20 dB / cm.

[0112] Silicone Rubber C: The main component of silicone rubber C is WACKER SIPURAN 6610 / 60 (abbreviated as 6610 / 60).

[0113] The performance testing process for silicone rubber C is as follows: Samples were prepared using a liquid silicone injection molding machine, with a mold size of 100 mm. 100 mm A 5 mm sample was obtained by initial vulcanization at 165℃ for 5 minutes and secondary vulcanization at 200℃ for 4 hours. Acoustic performance testing revealed that the density of silicone rubber C was 1.23 g / cm³. 3 The sound velocity is 1030 m / s, the acoustic impedance is 1.27 MRayl, and the sound attenuation at 5 MHz is less than 25 dB / cm.

[0114] Silicone Rubber D: The main component of Silicone Rubber D is Momentive Silopren LSR 7080 (abbreviated as LSR7080).

[0115] The performance testing process for silicone rubber D is as follows: Samples were prepared using a liquid silicone injection molding machine, with a mold size of 100 mm. 100 mm A 5 mm diameter sample was obtained by initial vulcanization at 130℃ for 15 minutes, followed by secondary vulcanization at 200℃ for 2 hours. Acoustic performance testing revealed that the density of silicone rubber D was 1.06 g / cm³. 3 The sound velocity is 1020 m / s, the acoustic impedance is 1.08 MRayl, and the sound attenuation at 5 MHz is less than 20 dB / cm.

[0116] (ii) Modified silicone rubber Modified silicone rubber E: The raw materials for preparing modified silicone rubber E include RTV 630, polyurethane resin, propyltriethoxysilane isocyanate (IPTS), hydroxyl-terminated silicone oil, and curing agent. The polyurethane resin used is a two-component compound, and the recommended ratio of polyurethane resin to its curing agent is 10:1 by mass.

[0117] The preparation process and performance testing of modified silicone rubber E are as follows: 20 g of RTV630 silicone component was weighed, and 7 g of polyurethane resin, 0.2 g of isocyanate propyltriethoxysilane (IPTS), and 0.5 g of hydroxyl-terminated silicone oil were added. After mechanical stirring until homogeneous, 0.7 g of polyurethane resin curing agent and 2 g of RTV 630 curing agent were added. The mixture was mechanically stirred until homogeneous, and after vacuum centrifugation to remove bubbles, the mixture was poured into a mold and cured at room temperature for 24 hours to obtain the modified silicone rubber E sample. The acoustic performance of the modified silicone rubber E was tested, and its density was 1.16 g / cm³. 3 The sound velocity is 1170 m / s, the acoustic impedance is 1.36 MRayl, and the sound attenuation at 5 MHz is less than 20 dB / cm.

[0118] Modified silicone rubber F: The raw materials for preparing modified silicone rubber F include DC 184, epoxy resin, silane coupling agent KH560 and curing agent. The epoxy resin used is a two-component epoxy resin and its curing agent have a mass ratio of 5:1.

[0119] The preparation process and performance testing of modified silicone rubber F are as follows: 20 g of DC 184 silicone component was weighed, 4 g of epoxy resin and 0.8 g of silane coupling agent KH560 were added, and the mixture was mechanically stirred until homogeneous. Then, 0.8 g of epoxy resin curing agent and 2 g of DC 184 curing agent were added, and the mixture was mechanically stirred until homogeneous. After vacuum centrifugation to remove bubbles, the mixture was poured into a mold and cured at room temperature for 48 hours to obtain the modified silicone rubber F sample. The acoustic performance of the modified silicone rubber F was tested, and the density of the modified silicone rubber F was 1.16 g / cm³. 3 The sound velocity is 1280 m / s, the acoustic impedance is 1.34 MRayl, and the sound attenuation at 5 MHz is less than 20 dB / cm.

[0120] Modified silicone rubber G: The raw materials for preparing modified silicone rubber G include DC 184, polysulfide rubber, silane coupling agent KH-580 and curing agent. The polysulfide rubber used is a two-component compound, and the mass ratio of polysulfide rubber to its curing agent is 4:1.

[0121] The preparation process and performance testing of modified silicone rubber G are as follows: 20 g of DC 184 silicone component was weighed, 8 g of liquid polysulfide rubber and 0.5 g of silane coupling agent KH-580 were added, and the mixture was mechanically stirred until homogeneous. Then, 2 g of polysulfide rubber curing agent and 2 g of DC 184 curing agent were added, and the mixture was mechanically stirred until homogeneous. After vacuum centrifugation to remove bubbles, the mixture was poured into a mold and vulcanized at room temperature for 48 hours to obtain the modified silicone rubber G sample. The acoustic performance of the modified silicone rubber G was tested, and the density was 1.06 g / cm³. 3 The sound velocity is 1330 m / s, the acoustic impedance is 1.41 MRayl, and the sound attenuation at 5 MHz is less than 30 dB / cm.

[0122] Modified silicone rubber H: The raw materials for preparing modified silicone rubber H include 6610 / 60 and silicone resin. The silicone resin used is a single-component thermosetting type, and the curing temperature is not lower than 60℃ and not higher than 150℃.

[0123] The preparation process and performance testing of modified silicone rubber H are as follows: Silicone resin was mixed into components A and B of 6610 / 60 respectively. In the mixed component A, the mass fraction of component A of 6610 / 60 was 80%, and the mass fraction of silicone resin was 20%. Similarly, in the mixed component B, the mass fraction of component B of 6610 / 60 was 80%, and the mass fraction of silicone resin was 20%. After mixing in a kneader for 60 minutes, a homogeneous material was obtained. Samples were prepared using a liquid silicone injection molding machine with a mold size of 100 mm. 100 mm Modified silicone rubber H sample was obtained by vulcanizing a sample of 5 mm diameter material under the following conditions: initial vulcanization at 160 °C for 10 minutes, followed by secondary vulcanization at 200 °C for 4 hours. Acoustic performance testing revealed that the density of modified silicone rubber H was 1.19 g / cm³. 3 The sound velocity is 1120 m / s, the acoustic impedance is 1.33 MRayl, and the sound attenuation at 5MHz is less than 25 dB / cm.

[0124] Modified silicone rubber I: The raw materials for preparing modified silicone rubber I include LSR 7080, nitrile rubber and curing agent. The liquid nitrile rubber used is a two-component compound with a mass ratio of liquid nitrile rubber to its curing agent of 2:1.

[0125] The preparation process and performance testing of modified silicone rubber I are as follows: Liquid nitrile rubber curing agent was mixed into component A of LSR 7080. The resulting component A contained 70% LSR 7080 by mass, 10% liquid nitrile rubber by mass, and 20% liquid nitrile rubber curing agent by mass. Simultaneously, liquid nitrile rubber was mixed into component B. The resulting component B contained 70% LSR 7080 by mass and 30% liquid nitrile rubber by mass. After mixing in a kneader for 60 minutes, a homogeneous mixture was obtained. Samples were then prepared using a liquid silicone injection molding machine with a mold size of 100 mm. 100mm A 5 mm diameter sample of modified silicone rubber I was obtained by initial vulcanization at 130 °C for 10 minutes and secondary vulcanization at 200 °C for 2 hours. Acoustic performance testing revealed that the density of component I was 1.10 g / cm³. 3 The sound velocity is 1226 m / s, the acoustic impedance is 1.35 MRayl, and the sound attenuation at 5 MHz is less than 25 dB / cm.

[0126] Modified silicone rubber J: The raw materials for the preparation of modified silicone rubber J include LSR 7080, fluorosilicone rubber, vinyl fluorosilicone oil and methyl fluorosilicone oil. The liquid fluorosilicone rubber used is a two-component compound, and the mass ratio of fluorosilicone rubber to its curing agent is 1:1.

[0127] The preparation process and performance testing of modified silicone rubber J are as follows: Fluorosilicone rubber and vinyl fluorosilicone oil were mixed into component A of LSR 7080. The mass fraction of component A of LSR 7080 after mixing was 65%, the mass fraction of fluorosilicone rubber was 30%, and the mass fraction of vinyl fluorosilicone oil was 5%. Fluorosilicone rubber curing agent and methyl fluorosilicone oil were mixed into component B of LSR 7080. The mass fraction of component B of LSR 7080 after mixing was 65%, the mass fraction of fluorosilicone rubber curing agent was 30%, and the mass fraction of methyl fluorosilicone oil was 5%. After mixing in a kneader for 60 minutes, a homogeneous mixture was obtained. Samples were prepared using a liquid silicone injection molding machine with a mold size of 100 mm. 100 mm Modified silicone rubber sample J was obtained by initial vulcanization at 130 ℃ for 10 minutes and secondary vulcanization at 200 ℃ for 2 hours, with a diameter of 5 mm. Acoustic performance testing revealed that the density of component J was 1.13 g / cm³. 3 The sound velocity is 1120 m / s, the acoustic impedance is 1.26 MRayl, and the sound attenuation at 5 MHz is less than 25 dB / cm.

[0128] (iii) Thermoplastic elastomers Thermoplastic elastomer K: Thermoplastic elastomer K is made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), specifically Covestro Desmopan DP 9370AU. Samples were made from the raw material for acoustic performance testing. The density of thermoplastic elastomer K is 1.06 g / cm³. 3 The sound velocity is 1640 m / s, the acoustic impedance is 1.77 MRayl, and the sound attenuation at 5 MHz is less than 20 dB / cm.

[0129] Thermoplastic elastomer L: Thermoplastic elastomer L is a polyether-polyamide block copolymer (PEBAX), specifically Arkema PEBAX 4533. Samples were prepared from the raw material for acoustic performance testing. The density of thermoplastic elastomer L is 1.01 g / cm³. 3 The sound velocity is 1750 m / s, the acoustic impedance is 1.76 MRayl, and the sound attenuation at 5 MHz is less than 30 dB / cm.

[0130] Thermoplastic elastomer M: Thermoplastic elastomer M is a silicone-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPSiV), specifically DuPont TPSiV 5300-80A. Samples were prepared from the raw material for acoustic performance testing, and the density of component M was found to be 0.95 g / cm³. 3 The sound velocity is 1430 m / s, the acoustic impedance is 1.36 MRayl, and the sound attenuation at 5 MHz is less than 35 dB / cm.

[0131] Thermoplastic elastomer N: Thermoplastic elastomer N is a styrene-isobutylene-styrene block copolymer (SIBS), specifically Kaneka SIBSTAR 062T. Samples were prepared from the raw material for acoustic performance testing. The density of thermoplastic elastomer N is 0.94 g / cm³. 3 The sound velocity is 1980 m / s, the acoustic impedance is 1.86 MRayl, and the sound attenuation at 5 MHz is less than 25 dB / cm.

[0132] (iv) Thermoplastic resins Thermoplastic resin O: Thermoplastic resin O uses poly4-methylpentene (TPX), specifically Mitsul Chemicals TPX RT-31. Samples were prepared from the raw material for acoustic performance testing, and the density of thermoplastic resin O was found to be 0.84 g / cm³. 3 The sound velocity is 2090 m / s, the acoustic impedance is 1.77 MRayl, and the sound attenuation at 5 MHz is less than 15 dB / cm.

[0133] Thermoplastic resin P: Thermoplastic resin P is made of polypropylene (PP), specifically Lotte Chemical Titanpro 6431. Samples were made from the raw material for acoustic performance testing, and the density of thermoplastic resin P was found to be 0.90 g / cm³. 3 The sound velocity is 2600 m / s, the acoustic impedance is 2.34 MRayl, and the sound attenuation at 5 MHz is less than 20 dB / cm.

[0134] Thermoplastic resin Q: Thermoplastic resin Q is made of polyamide resin (PA), specifically Arkema Rilsan Clear G820. Samples were made from the raw material and their acoustic performance was tested. The density of thermoplastic resin Q was found to be 1.05 g / cm³. 3 The sound velocity is 2260 m / s, the acoustic impedance is 2.37 MRayl, and the sound attenuation at 5 MHz is less than 20 dB / cm.

[0135] The main components and acoustic performance parameters of the aforementioned materials are listed in Table 1 below: Table 1 The materials for different zones of the acoustic lens can be selected according to the principles of acoustic impedance matching and sound velocity difference, as shown in Table 1. Due to different material forming methods, the forming and processing sequence of each zone can be adjusted according to actual conditions. Specific implementation methods are as follows: Example 1 Please see Figure 3 An acoustic lens has a front surface and includes a central region L2 and a first side region L1 and a second side region L3 located on either side of the central region along a curved surface direction from the middle of the front surface. Along the Y-axis, L2 accounts for 40% of the length, while L1 and L3 each account for 30% of the length.

[0136] The acoustic lens in Example 1 is a three-section convex lens fabricated using multi-color injection molding. The material of the middle section L2 is modified silicone rubber I, the material of the first side section L1 is silicone rubber C, and the material of the second side section L3 is modified silicone rubber J. The middle section L2 has the highest sound velocity, while the first side section L1 and the second side section L3 have lower sound velocities. The focal length F2 of the middle section L2 is greater than the focal length F1 of the first side section L1, and the focal length F2 of the middle section L2 is also greater than the focal length F3 of the second side section L3.

[0137] The aforementioned acoustic lens has three focal points with different focal lengths. The ultrasonic beam transmitted through the middle region L2 is focused on the deeper part of the target under test, while the ultrasonic beam transmitted through the first side region L1 and the second side region L3 is focused on the shallower part of the target under test, thus achieving an ultrasonic beam with a narrow width in the Y direction.

[0138] Example 2 Please see Figure 4 Example 2 is basically the same as Example 1, except that the first side region L1 and the second side region L3 are both made of silicone rubber C. Along the Y-axis, the lengths of L1 / L2 / L3 are equal, all being 33.3%.

[0139] The aforementioned acoustic lens has two focal points with different focal lengths. The central region L2 has the fastest sound velocity and the largest focal length, while the first side region L1 and the second side region L3 have lower sound velocities and smaller focal lengths. The ultrasonic beam passing through the central region L2 is focused on the deeper part of the target under test, while the ultrasonic beams transmitted through the side regions L1 and L3 are focused on the shallower part of the target under test, thus achieving an ultrasonic beam with a narrow width in the Y direction.

[0140] Example 3 Please see Figure 5An acoustic lens has a front surface and includes a central region L3 and four side regions L1, L2, L4, and L5 located on either side of the central region in the lifting direction. Along the Y-axis, L3 accounts for 30% of the length, while L1, L2, L4, and L5 each account for 17.5% of the length.

[0141] The acoustic lens in Example 3 is a five-section convex lens. The material of the middle section L3 is thermoplastic elastomer M, the material of the first side section L1 and the fourth side section L5 is silicone rubber C, and the material of the second side section L2 and the third side section L4 is modified silicone rubber H. First, a two-stage injection molding process is used to injection mold the second side section L2 and the third side section L4 on both sides of the middle section L3. Then, a two-color injection molding process is used to injection mold the first side section L1 and the fourth side section L5. The sound velocity is fastest in the middle section L3, and the sound velocity gradually decreases in the side sections (V). L2 >V L1 V L4 >V L5 That is, the focal length is the largest in the middle area and gradually decreases in the focal length of the two side areas.

[0142] The aforementioned acoustic lens has three focal points with different focal lengths. The ultrasonic beam passing through the middle region L3 of the acoustic lens is focused on the deeper part of the target object, while the ultrasonic beams transmitted through the first side region L1, the second side region L2, the third side region L4, and the fourth side region L5 are focused on the shallower part of the target object, thus achieving an ultrasonic beam with a narrow width in the Y direction.

[0143] Example 4 Please see Figure 6 An acoustic lens has a front surface. Extending from the center of the front surface along a curved direction to both sides, the lens includes a central region L4 and four side regions located on either side of the central region: a first side region L1, a second side region L2, a third side region L3, a fourth side region L5, a fifth side region L6, and a sixth side region L7. Along the Y-axis, the central region L4 accounts for 25% of the length, L1 and L7 each account for 15%, L2 and L6 each account for 12.5%, and L3 and L5 each account for 10%.

[0144] The acoustic lens in Example 4 is a convex lens with a seven-section structure. The material of the middle section L4 is modified silicone rubber G; the materials of the first side sections L1 and the sixth side section L7 are silicone rubber A; the materials of the second side sections L2 and the fifth side section L6 are modified silicone rubber E; and the materials of the third side sections L3 and the fourth side section L5 are modified silicone rubber F. The acoustic lens is prepared using a staged casting method. The sound velocity is highest in the middle section L4, and gradually decreases in the sound velocity of the side sections (V...). L3 >V L2 >V L1 V L5>V L6 >V L7 That is, the focal length is the largest in the middle area and gradually decreases on both sides.

[0145] The aforementioned acoustic lens has four focal points with different focal lengths. The ultrasonic beam passing through the central region L4 of the acoustic lens is focused on the deeper part of the target object, while the ultrasonic beams transmitted through the first side region L1, the second side region L2, the third side region L3, the fourth side region L5, the fifth side region L6, and the sixth side region L7 are focused on the shallower part of the target object, thus achieving an ultrasonic beam with a narrow width in the Y direction.

[0146] Example 5 Please see Figure 7 An acoustic lens has a front surface and includes a central region L2 and a first side region L1 and a second side region L3 located on either side of the central region in the lifting direction. Along the Y-axis, L2 accounts for 30% of the length, while L1 and L3 each account for 35%.

[0147] The acoustic lens in Example 5 is a concave lens with a three-section structure. The material of the middle section L2 is thermoplastic resin P, and the materials of the first side sections L1 and the second side sections L3 are thermoplastic resin Q. The sound velocity in the middle section L2 is the slowest, while the sound velocity in the first side sections L1 and the second side sections L3 is relatively fast. The focal length F1 of the middle section L2 is greater than the focal length F2 of the first side sections L1 and the second side sections L3.

[0148] The aforementioned acoustic lens has two focal points with different focal lengths. The ultrasonic beam transmitted through the middle region L2 is focused on the deeper part of the target under test, while the ultrasonic beam transmitted through the first side region L1 and the second side region L3 is focused on the shallower part of the target under test, thus achieving an ultrasonic beam with a narrow width in the Y direction.

[0149] Example 6 Please see Figure 8 An acoustic lens has a front surface and includes a central region L3 and four side regions L1, L2, L4, and L5 located on either side of the central region in the vertical direction. Along the Y-axis, the lengths of L1 / L2 / L3 / L4 / L5 are equal, each accounting for 20%.

[0150] The acoustic lens in Example 6 is a five-section convex lens. The material of the middle section L3 is thermoplastic elastomer K, the material of the first side section L1 and the fourth side section L5 is thermoplastic resin O, and the material of the second side section L2 and the third side section L4 is thermoplastic elastomer L. It is manufactured using a two-stage injection molding process. The sound velocity is slowest in the middle section L3, and gradually increases in the sound velocity of the side sections (V). L2 <V L1 VL4 <V L5 That is, the focal length is the largest in the middle area and gradually decreases in the focal length of the two side areas.

[0151] The aforementioned acoustic lens has three focal points with different focal lengths. The ultrasonic beam passing through the middle region L3 of the acoustic lens is focused on the deeper part of the target object, while the ultrasonic beams transmitted through the first side region L1, the second side region L2, the third side region L4, and the fourth side region L5 are focused on the shallower part of the target object, thus achieving an ultrasonic beam with a narrow width in the Y direction.

[0152] Example 7 Example 7 is basically the same as Example 1, except that the material of the intermediate region L2 is modified silicone rubber F.

[0153] The aforementioned acoustic lens has three focal points with different focal lengths. The ultrasonic beam transmitted through the middle region L2 is focused on the deeper part of the target under test, while the ultrasonic beam transmitted through the first side region L1 and the second side region L3 is focused on the shallower part of the target under test, thus achieving an ultrasonic beam with a narrow width in the Y direction.

[0154] Comparative Example 1 Please see Figure 9 Comparative Example 1 is basically the same as Example 1, except that the acoustic lens is made of modified silicone rubber I.

[0155] Comparative Example 2 Please see Figure 11 Comparative Example 2 is basically the same as Example 5, except that the acoustic lens is made entirely of thermoplastic resin P.

[0156] The acoustic lenses prepared in Examples 1-7 and Comparative Examples 1-2 were subjected to beamwidth testing, and the test results are shown in Table 2 below.

[0157] The specific testing method is as follows: Based on the sound field scanning equipment, the test environment is set up, and ultrasonic transducers using different acoustic lenses are installed and debugged respectively. The plane wave transmission and reception mode is set, and ZY Sacn scanning is performed to obtain the beamwidth of the acoustic lenses in different embodiments.

[0158] The beamwidth of the single convex lens in Comparative Example 1 is defined as d1, and the beamwidth of the single concave lens in Comparative Example 2 is defined as d2. The different embodiments are compared according to the acoustic lens type; specifically, the test results d1 of Examples 1-4 and Example 7 are compared. 测 Compared with d1, the test results of Examples 5-6 are d 测 Compared with d2, the narrowing effect is evaluated as follows: Narrowing effect α = (d1 - d2) / (d2 ... 测 ) / d1 or (d2-d 测 ) / d2.

[0159] Definition evaluation: Narrowing effect A: α > 10%; Narrowing effect B: 5% < α ≤ 10%; Narrowing effect C: 2% < α ≤ 5%; Narrowing effect D: 0% < α ≤ 2%.

[0160] The schematic diagram of the beam width comparison between the acoustic lens of the present application and the traditional single - material acoustic lens at different depths of the待测 target is as Figure 13 shown. It can be seen from Figure 3 that the acoustic lens of the present application makes the beam narrowing obvious, the beam more uniform, and the beam widths at different depths of the待测 object are close.

[0161] Table 2 It can be seen from the data in Table 2 above that by using the acoustic lens of the present application, multi - point focusing can be achieved, the beam narrowing is obvious, the beam is more uniform, and thus higher - quality ultrasonic images can be obtained.

[0162] It can be seen from Example 1 and Comparative Example 1. Please refer to Figure 9 , Comparative Example 1 is a convex lens prepared from a single material. The sound velocity and focal length of the convex lens in Comparative Example 1 are fixed. If you want to change the focal length, you can only change it by changing the radius of curvature. Please refer to Figure 10 (to increase the focal length F1, you can only increase the radius of curvature R1, where F1 < F2, R1 < R2), and the function of changing the focal length cannot be achieved; it can be seen from Figure 13 that when the beam passes through the acoustic lens of Example 1, compared with passing through the acoustic lens of Comparative Example 1, the beam in Example 1 is more uniform in the待测 target, and the beam widths at different depths are close. Thus, higher - quality ultrasonic images can also be obtained, which can also be seen from Figure 13 .

[0163] It can be seen from Example 5 and Comparative Example 2. Please refer to Figure 11 , Comparative Example 2 is a concave lens prepared from a single material. The sound velocity and focal length of the concave lens in Comparative Example 2 are fixed. If you want to change the focal length, you can only change it by changing the radius of curvature. Please refer to Figure 12(To increase the focal length F1, only the radius of curvature R1 can be decreased, where F1 < F2 and R1 < R2), the function of varying the focal length cannot be achieved, and there is no beam narrowing effect. From Examples 1 to 7 and Table 1, it can be seen that the modified silicone rubber with the following preparation raw materials and their mass contents (such as modified silicone rubber E, modified silicone rubber F, modified silicone rubber H, modified silicone rubber J): including 60% - 80% of silicone rubber, 10% - 40% of high sound velocity components, and 0% - 10% of compatibilizer, the acoustic lens prepared has more obvious beam narrowing and smaller acoustic attenuation. The modified silicone rubber with the following preparation raw materials and their mass contents (such as modified silicone rubber E, modified silicone rubber F): 60% - 75% of silicone rubber, 22% - 40% of high sound velocity components, and 1% - 5% of compatibilizer, the acoustic lens prepared has a higher beam narrowing degree, reaching more than 10%, and the acoustic attenuation is further reduced.)

[0164] The technical features of the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. For the sake of concise description, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-mentioned embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, it should be considered as the scope recorded in this specification.)

[0165] The above-mentioned embodiments only represent several implementation manners of the present invention. Their descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, but they cannot be construed as a limitation on the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the concept of the present invention, several modifications and improvements can still be made, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the invention patent should be subject to the appended claims.)

Claims

1. An acoustic lens, characterized in that, The acoustic lens has a front surface, and the curvature of the front surface includes a central region and side regions located on both sides of the central region; the focal length of the central region is greater than the focal length of the side regions; the sound velocity difference between adjacent regions is greater than or equal to 50 m / s, and the acoustic impedance difference between adjacent regions is less than or equal to 0.1 Mrayl.

2. The acoustic lens as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In the direction of surface curvature change of the front surface, the length of the middle region accounts for 10% to 40% of the total length of the acoustic lens, and the length of the side region on one side accounts for 5% to 45% of the total length of the acoustic lens.

3. The acoustic lens as described in claim 1, characterized in that, At least one of the following conditions must be met: The number, length, and sound speed of the side zones on both sides of the central zone are the same.

4. The acoustic lens as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The sound velocity difference between adjacent zones is 100 m / s to 350 m / s, and the acoustic impedance difference between adjacent zones is 0 to 0.05Mrayl.

5. The acoustic lens as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The acoustic lens is a convex lens, and the sound velocity in the central region and each of the side regions is less than or equal to 1500 m / s; or... The acoustic lens is a concave lens, and the sound velocity in the middle region and each of the side regions is greater than 1500 m / s.

6. The acoustic lens as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The side region on one side comprises n sequentially connected sub-regions in the direction of surface curvature change on the front surface. The focal length of the n sequentially connected sub-regions decreases from the middle region in the direction away from the middle region, where n is a natural number greater than or equal to 1.

7. The acoustic lens according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The acoustic lens is a convex lens, the front surface is a convex surface, the curvature of the front surface is equal in the middle region and each of the side regions, and the sound speed in the middle region is greater than the sound speed in the side regions.

8. The acoustic lens as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The acoustic lens is a convex lens, and the side region on one side includes n sequentially connected sub-regions in the direction of surface curvature change on the front surface. The sound velocity of the n sequentially connected sub-regions decreases from the middle region to the direction away from the middle region, where n is a natural number greater than or equal to 1.

9. The acoustic lens as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The material of the middle area and each of the side areas is at least one of silicone rubber and modified silicone rubber.

10. The acoustic lens as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The raw materials for preparing the modified silicone rubber, by mass content, include 60%~80% silicone rubber, 10%~40% high-velocity acoustic components, and 0%~10% compatibilizer, wherein the high-velocity acoustic components have a sound velocity greater than or equal to 1100 m / s.

11. The acoustic lens as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that, The raw materials for preparing the modified silicone rubber, by mass content, include 60%~75% silicone rubber, 22%~40% high-speed acoustic components, and 1%~5% compatibilizer.

12. The acoustic lens as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that, The sound velocity of the modified silicone rubber is 1100m / s to 1400m / s.

13. The acoustic lens according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that, The hypersonic component includes at least one of silicone resin, polyurethane resin, epoxy resin, fluorosilicone rubber, polysulfide rubber, and nitrile rubber.

14. The acoustic lens according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that, The compatibilizer includes at least one of silane coupling agents and modified silicone oils.

15. The acoustic lens according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that, The silicone rubber includes at least one of RTV 630 silicone rubber, DC 184 silicone rubber, 6610 / 60 silicone rubber and LSR 7080 silicone rubber.

16. The acoustic lens according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The acoustic lens is a concave lens, the front surface is a concave surface, the curvature of the front surface is equal in the middle region and each of the side regions, and the sound speed in the middle region is less than the sound speed in the side regions.

17. The acoustic lens as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that, The acoustic lens is a concave lens, and the side region on one side includes n sequentially connected sub-regions in the direction of surface curvature change on the front surface. The sound velocity of the n sequentially connected sub-regions increases from the middle region to the direction away from the middle region, where n is a natural number greater than or equal to 1.

18. The acoustic lens as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that, The material of the central area and each of the side areas is a thermoplastic polymer.

19. The acoustic lens as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that, The thermoplastic polymer includes at least one of thermoplastic polyurethane, polyether polyamide block copolymer, silicone thermoplastic elastomer, styrene-isobutylene-styrene block copolymer, poly4-methylpentene, polypropylene, and polyamide resin.

20. An ultrasonic probe, characterized in that, Including the acoustic lens as described in any one of claims 1 to 19.

21. An ultrasonic imaging device, characterized in that, Includes the acoustic lens as described in any one of claims 1 to 19 or the ultrasonic probe as described in claim 20.

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